Wufong scenic area & spa in Jiaosi

"End of the year" party of ASIAA brought one day tour to Jiaosi, near Ilan, some hour bus ride from Taipei. Idea was to make a hike to the waterfalls in Wufong scenic area (more info on chinese info , but it is in Chinese only, in English I found only link.

Afterwards we had a lunch and hot springs in one of Jiaosi spas. Very taiwanese plan for outing, yes.
I realised I usually show the best weather here on my pics. Well, it is not always like this.
Weather for this trip was usual one for middle of winter on pacific coast here: cloudy and wet, raining. Temperature around 13 cels.

Fortunately, when we arrived to Wufong, it was not strong raining, and, with umbrellas in hand, we could do our "hike". It was in fact a leisure walk up the stairs to the waterfalls. Here are as they come, 1st, second, and third-in fact, these are just three levels of the same waterfall. It was quite dark, and I did the pics when walking, my camera badly could cope with it, obviously sorry for that, obviously I need a bit better one for such pics.

Path to the third one was closed, because of falling rocks, but someone knew the place and encouraged us to ignore the fence, and we were satisfied to do so, after a 10 min walk uphill we were rewarded with really nice view:

In the wet day, these large ferns really look as in Jurrasic time

Top of the climb was, surprisingly, the church and grotte with St.Mary, who allegedly made an apparition here in 1980-ies. Least expecting place to find such a thing, I must say. Also, that this new church -of peculiar shape- is positioned in what seems to be nature preserve, I find quite surprising. Somebody had good connections in government, ways of God are unnumbered, obviously. Not outnumbered ;-).

Usual figure inside, as from Lourdes or Medjugorje

Back down, the last, quite pitoresque view

And then: food! As usual, official banquet looks like...banquet!

Director and hosts were entertaining IAA staff, peculiar Taiwanese style with quite slapstick humor and lots of karaoke singing. But this is how should be, it is Taiwan, and they have their ways! Quite an experience :-)

Pics of the spa I do not have, from understandible reasons ;-) . But it was one on open air, with choice of water temperatures and water massage, really a pure pleasure in such a day. These asians know to enjoy!

Deep winter: by bicycle around Baoshan County

In my explorations of Baoshan County I decided to make the round tour. From Science Park behind Hsinchu I entered the county near the Baoshan reservoir, and followed road nr.40 towards the Baoshan Reservoir II, but then turned right towards Toufen.

I followed line of magnificent view to 3000 m high mountains behind Hsinchu.

When exiting the County I turned back to Hsinchu.

It is very convenient bicycle tour, roads are good, not many cars, clean air. Also, the choice of roads, with larger or smaller hills to climb, is large. You followed me through most of it in last posts, I hope I was informative enough, and if you happen to stuck in Hsinchu, can follow my trail.

Weather in Taiwan is cool enough for bicycle only during winter, otherwise it is rather impossible to drive on these hills during the warmer part of the year. Even in winter, I left sweat trace on the roads. When there was any sun, temperature would be above 25 celsius immediately.

There is lots of nature to enjoy along the road, this view made me soft:

Orange plantations along the road are now in full...oranges

and fields of hard working people of Taiwan are as green as ever

As said, I reached tops at the border of Baoshan County, from which Hsinchu is just a white line at the horizon:

Here we see how Taiwanese care about their ancestors. These are really overviewing their descendent's everyday doings

And all this in 2 hour drive from the busy streets of TsingHua

or less busy, but characteristic lane of Guang Fu Rd. where I live

Take your bicycle out and follow me, it is beautiful world out there!